Home / Colonial & Revolutionary Primary Sources
📜 Colonial & Revolutionary Primary Sources
Dutch/English colonial records, revolutionary-era minutes, pre-1800 manuscripts
10,597Passages
6Source Documents
Sources
Passages
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
The Court of France which I have the honour to inform of it this moment, will have Room to
look upon this undertaking as an act of hostility on your part, and I dont doubt but you will give
attention to the justice of my Demand. I desire
you to hono…
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
Sir, but you will have the same Regard for them as for the King's Officer
I dont doubt,
who goes along witli them.
COPY OF THE SUMMONS
TO THE COMMANDANT OF THE FORT RUILT BY THE ENGLISH ON THE SHORE OF LAKE ONTARIO AT THE MOUTH
OF THE RIVER CHOUEG…
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
Treaty of Utrecht, which mentions that the subjects of the two Crowns shall not intrench upon one
anothers Land, 'till the Decision of the Limits by the Judges delegated to that End, has sent me with
orders to summon you to draw out at furthest withi…
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
Major of the Town, Castle and Government of Quebec, having in execution of the orders to us given
by the Marquis of Beauharnois Governor and Lieutenant General for the King in all New France,
arrived before the Fort built by the English on the border…
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
had been sent thither by his General Government to build the said fort there with the consent of the
Six Nations and even under valid contracts with them that if we wished, he would cause the Chiefs
of the Onondaga Indians then on the spot, to come w…
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
he persisted in his original sentiments and said that he had as much right to summon the Commandant of Niagara ; finally he should send the summons to his Governor General, promising to give an
answer so soon as he should receive orders.
Done at Ch…
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
You perceive, Sir, that I would complain of the sudden and peremptory summons that you have
and which was brought to me by an express, before the arrival
sent to my Officer posted at Oswego
;
of
M De la Chassaigne.
r
should think,
Sir, that
you …
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
De Longueuil, then Commander in Chief in Canada, of a Fort that had been
built at Niagara and tho' I received no answer from him by the bearer of my letter and at last received one that was not at all satisfactory, I contented myself with writing to …
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
that I writ to Mr. de Longueuil upon that subject which he has no doubt shown to you. I come now, Sir, to the subject of
your Letter, there are two things which you complain of, first
of the trade at Oswego, secondly of the Redoubt as you call it, …
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
It is upon this, Sir, that we pretend to
have an equal right with you of trading thro' all the Lakes and all the Continent, and that incontestably, by virtue of the Terms of the Treaty. It follows therein that also the Natives of those Countries sha…
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
But as for our Right to carry a Trade every where among the Indians,
one cannot find expressions more contrary to the terms of the Treaty than those in your letter,
where you name 'several places occupied by the French, who alone, say you, have had …
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
to hinder its being Surprized, and that
have posted some Souldiers in it, but that which gave me
the first thought of it, was the fortified and
much larger house which the French have built at
Niagara, upon the lands of the Five Nations, as it ap…
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
of the Five Nations, and always on pretence that they Avere only to be houses for the conveniency of
Trade with them and without ever pretending to claim the Property of those places And you seem,
Sir, to allow almost as much yourself for you say, T…
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
I can't comprehend what use the Article of the Treaty to which you allude, can be to you, and I
can't find the words in the Treaty as you have cited them, nor even the sense entirely agreeable to
them.
You call the post which we have settled at Oswe…
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
The words we are now upon are these as follows, The Subjects of France inhabiting Canada
and others, shall hereafter give no hindrance or Molestation to the five Nations or Cantons of
Indians, subject to the Dominion of Great Britain, nor to the othe…
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
subject to the Dominion of Great Britain.
But as there is mentiou made of other Americans Allies
of Great Britain and of American Subjects or friends to France, without
naming them, it is as clear
as daylight that the Commissaries are only to det…
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
You may, Sir, make such complaints hereupon as you judge proper, as you have informed me that
you have already made some, and at the same time you will not think it strange that on my part I
inform the Court, in what manner you have summoned the King…
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
New York 24th August 1727.
which I have been building this Spring at Oswego, at the mouth of the
Onnondages River, was upon the point of being finished, when at the same time I learnt by an
Express that the Governour of Canada had sent a summons to t…
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
I agreed to leave it to be decided between the two
Crowns as he proposed but in the mean time thought myself obliged to hold and maintain it. I have enclosed copies of the Governour of Canada's letter to me in French and my answer
to him in the same …
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
But this new
house at Oswego will make a stand that will embolden our Five nations, & will not easily be
taken without great Cannon, the wall being four foot thick of good large stone, and it is repreme that the French cannot bring large cannon again…
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
The French
have a Fort on the Lake at Cadaraqui, where the biggest Guns they have are patereros, that
one man can carry about in liis arms So that probably they could bring no bigger thither. I have had a report from some New England captives lately …
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
as we shall be ready to defend ourselves against the French, so that I am in good hopes to be able to
hold this place, in case we are attacked, and I hope Your Lordships will support me in taking these
measures for securing our right to the five nat…
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
On the arrival of the Nontagues at my tent, they told me on the part of the Commandant of Choueguen, that as
I was
passing his place on public business, I must fire the
first salute and lower
my
PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO.
flag.
my people would …
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
They returned to said fort and reported to me that the Commandant insisted on what they had
I asked them whose was the land over which I wished to pass
This
question caused them to droop their heads and they remained in pensive silence. It was not un…
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
During this interval the Commandant of Choueguen sent for six of the principal Chiefs including
me. My Chiefs invited me to follow them. I answered that I had no business at that house they
were masters to go since they wished it I should keep my ten…
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
I will always act so towards you. I invite you to peace and
tranquillity between you and us. He gave them three pots of Rum, a large piece of Pork and a bushel of peas which they brought
He assured that
I found them in a state of great Drunkenness, e…
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
answered Indian fashion
;
I knew no flag
should not be lowered until I was tied.
always
but that of their Father Onontio which I carried, and it
Contrary to the custom of lowering it at sundown, it remained flying night and day the whole of the …
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
They answered You're right,
Under their Father's flag,
And forthwith they furled the British flag which has not made its
Flag since they dared not pass Choueguen without a British flag. Father
;
but you know we have every thing to manage here.
th…
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
ing by, I assured him I wo'd enquire into it, and I hope you will be able to acquit yourself of what
he lays to your charge. I desire you will be very vigilant and guard carefully against all surprizes of the Indians or others,
Capt: Dick will conve…
O'Callaghan, E.B., ed. The Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. I. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Co., 1849.
does not stagger the best resolutions of the Six Nations, who at present fear more than
they love the French ; that Fortress, or rather Trading house, for it is no better, is in a very defencemen it is and has
been without Ammunition, the Assembly r…